Highly sought after 4-star S Xavion Alford details interest in Texas

Shadow Creek safety Xavion Alford has enjoyed a ton of traction within his recruitment. The gifted prospect has seen his stock and the pursuit for his talents completely upsurge in a span of two months, as Alford has accounted for an offer every other day in the months of January and February.

Alford has compiled a total of 37 offers thus far, with the majority of them coming from Power 5 conference programs, including an invitation from the Texas Longhorns. With so many opportunities being presented to Alford in a short amount of time, he’s just trying to soak it all in and truly get a feel for each school.

“It’s been fun, but it’s getting a little overwhelming,” Alford told BON. “It’s fun just talking to all of these coaches and visiting all of these places, and being wanted everywhere. It just feels good. All of the hard work is paying off.”

As of right now, Texas, Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, and Texas A&M are standing out to Alford.

A four-star recruit, Alford was presented with an offer from Texas in early February. The Longhorns have made it clear that they’ll be after Alford and fellow Houston-area defensive backs. C.E. King safety Bryson Washington and Aldine MacArthur cornerback Joshua Eaton have made back to back visits two weekends in a row to the Forty Acres.

Aford, too, was recently on hand to visit Texas for Junior Day.

“I would say Texas definitely rolled out the red carpet for me on my visit,” Alford said. “I really enjoy being in Austin, and it’s just a fun place to be in. It’s all love throughout the campus.”

His relationship with some important staff members and current Longhorn playmakers made Alford’s visit a laid back experience. A lot of these connections could be extremely pivotal in Alford potentially taking his talents to Austin.

“Coach Naivar and I have a very close relationship, along with Michael Huff,” Alford said. “Also, I have a lot of ties up there with Jordan Whittington, [Anthony] Cook, Jay Green, BJ Foster, and D’Shawn Jamison. I was with those guys just chilling.”

Head coach Tom Herman made sure to spend some quality time with Alford during Texas’ Junior Day. It has been expressed to Alford that he is a vital prospect for the Longhorns this recruiting cycle.

“Me and Coach Herman talked and he made it clear that I am a premium player in the 2020 class, and that I’m a key piece to winning a natty,” Alford said.

Alford has said before that he could see himself playing in burnt orange and that he believes in what Herman and company are building with the program. Throughout the remainder of this process, Alford just wants to see who’s going to be authentic with him until the end.

“I just want honesty and loyalty really. I want the coaches to tell me what it really is before I get to a campus and not to change the script on me. Just to be consistent, that’s all.”

The Longhorns have offered six safeties this recruiting cycle. Herman and company have mostly stayed in state this class when offering at the safety position. The other targeted prospects from the lone star state at the position are four-star Duncanville stand-out Chris Thompson Jr., four-star Hebron leader Darius Snow, and four-star C.E. King baller Bryson Washington.

Alford’s physicality and ability to read the field as the last line of defense are just a few reasons why the Longhorns will be after his services. He believes that he can be a ballhawk, a leader, and bring overall elite competitiveness to a program at the next level.

At 6’0, 174 pounds, Alford is ranked as the nation’s No. 188 prospect, the No. 13 safety in the country, and as the No. 25 player in the state, per the 247Sports Composite rankings.